Let's Make Tennis Simple

If you want to hit the ball where you expect it to go, there are three big things players at any level must practice. These three work together, in sequence, to help you hit cleaner and have more fun—whether you started today or you’ve played for years.

I’ve been teaching tennis for more than 27 years and I’ve found that the more comfortable you are with these three components, the more you can simply play your game. These are the components of a basic hit—a hit that creates what you expect to see.

My goal isn’t to teach “automation” or robotic swings. I want you to be causative over your play—to be the one creating the effects on the court, not just reacting.

The Three Components of a Basic Hit

Attention → Position → Create the bounce
All three must be present, and in that sequence, or randomity takes over.
(Accidents happen, when they do, because there is missing info or missing attention.)

  1. Attention (Where your clarity and intention come from)

  2. Position (Where the racket face looks and directs)

  3. Create the bounce you expect to see
    (Decide where you want the ball to go—then send it there.)

1. Attention

Attention is where your clarity and intention come from. It isn’t just “looking at the ball”—it’s where your focus actually lives.

Try this simple drill:
Place a tennis ball in the palm of your hand and pay attention to it. Now, shift your attention from the ball to your hand.

Did the ball become a little bit less clear?

Almost everyone says yes. In tennis, wherever your attention goes, clarity follows. If your attention is sharply on the ball, it will never surprise you. You will know exactly where it is and what it is doing.

2. Position

Position is about where the racket face looks. The racket face is the steering wheel of your hit—it tells the ball exactly where it is going to be directed.

Many players focus on their "grip" or their "swing," but the ball only follows where the racket face is looking at the moment of contact.

The Teacher's Secret: If your Attention is sharp, your brain will naturally tell your hand where the racket needs to be. Position follows Attention.

3. Create the bounce you expect to see

Bounce is the creation after a decision. You decide what you want to see happen, and then you create the bounce to make it happen.

Think of your racket strings like a trampoline. When the ball meets the strings, something is going to happen. By making a hitting decision, you are the one in control of that outcome.

The Lesson: Height, spin, and speed should be the outcomes of decision making, not random occurrences. Randomity happens when there is missing info or missing attention. When you decide where you want to send the ball—and then send it there—you are playing causative tennis.

D3C Tip For Clean Hitting

Try this "Shank-Proof" drill:

1. Hold your racket in front of you and gently bounce a ball on the strings. Keep your eyes locked on the ball.
2. Now shift your attention to the racket head instead of the ball. Notice how much harder it is to control the bounce — that’s what causes shanks.
3. Go back to locking on the ball itself. Feel how much cleaner the contact is?

Here’s the key: your attention tells the racket where to be. Every time you get this right, you’re adding real experience to your “Experience Bucket” — and shanks start disappearing.”

Put your attention On the Ball

It seems like a given, but most players pay more attention on thought, not the actual ball. Attention to the ball is the first step to creating what you expect.

The Three Components For Good / Great Hitting Summary

Position Your Racket

The racket face dictates where the ball goes. Many players focus on grip, but racket face position is what directs the ball—especially when dealing with a non‑cooperating ball.

Create Bounce

The ball is honest—it reflects what you give it. The ball will go where you tell it. The question is: are you communicating with your racket, or with your expectation? The ball will always show you what you’ve told it.